The Best Mistakes

46. Kayra

I couldn't hear the rest of what the attendant said. My mind was too blank to think anything. So, will I have to go back home now? Is God really abandoning me now after I've come this far?

I sat there in the lobby with my head hung low. Passing people still looked back at me twice to take a good look. I must definitely be looking like a mad woman. My legs ached because of running for so long in heels and I felt uncomfortable in this heavy lehenga and jewelry.

I exhaled and slumped in my seat further. But the air hitting my bare back got blocked and soon I felt something covering me. I lifted my head and glanced behind me. A towering figure stood behind me, it was Ved.

My heart dropped and panic rushed through my entire body. I jolted up from the chair and turned to look at him. He put his blazer on me and was staring at me with something strange in his eyes. He wasn't angry, in fact he smiled at me gently, which caught me off guard. I expected him to at least be mad at me and drag me back home, but he didn't do any of it.

“How did you find me?” This was the first thing that came out of my mouth. It was rude and the wariness I was showing him must've hurted him but he didn't show it. “Did you forget what I do?” He huffed out a laugh. The answers he gave me were vague and it confused me but a light bulb went off in my head and I remembered that Ved works in Cyber security. He must've tracked my phone and now was here.

“I'm sorry for tracking you, Kayra. But…” His words trailed off and he searched through his pockets. He took out a passport and a piece of paper and handed them to me. My eyes widened when I saw it was my passport and the next plane’s ticket to Vancouver. I looked at him with wide eyes, “How- why?” I couldn't form any words as it was too surprising and suspicious of him.

“Your mother was worried about where you'd go, so she was searching for someone to find you and I accidentally heard her speaking to your brother. So, I said I'd give you this. Don't worry, I did this discreetly, so no one knows you're here,” he said. Maa was worried about me, it made sense but why would she ask Ved to do this? And most importantly, why would he do this?

“But why are you doing this? After what I just did-” He cut me off. “I wanted to apologize to you and make things right.” His lips pressed in a thin smile and a bout of hurt flashed on his face.

“It was my fault that I never caught on. I should’ve understood when you didn't answer my texts or my calls or when you looked so depressed today. But maybe my selfish feelings stopped me from doing anything and I realized my wrongs when you ran away from me. I'm truly sorry for putting you through all this, so I thought I should at least do this much for you.” He apologized, even when he shouldn't. I should be the one apologizing to him, not the other way around. I humiliated him and his family in front of everyone.

“Please, don't apologize, Ved. I'm the wrong one here. Though, I'm not sorry for choosing myself, I'm whole-heartedly sorry for insulting you and your family in front of everyone today.”

“It's okay, Kayra. And it had to be done, anyway. I'm glad you gathered the courage to break off things. I was a coward to not do anything, even when I knew I wouldn't be able to make you happy. So, I'm thankful you ran away.” He smiled. I didn't know that Ved was such a nice and kind man. If I hadn't fallen for Nolan, being with Ved would've been good. He'd surely make a good partner.

But I'd already given my heart to someone and no one except him can take it now. I passed him a smile, a genuine one and he reciprocated the same to me. “And I must say, you looked pretty cool while running away from the hall. Everyone was so shocked and speechless.” He grinned.

I covered my face with my hands in embarrassment. He was back to his old self. I heard a laugh rumble through his chest and it made my face even more red. God, I will die out of embarrassment. “Stop! You don't have to mention that.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Wear these, no wait-” Ved raised a paper bag towards me but instantly withdrew it. He made me sit on the chair and kneeled in front of me. “What are you doing-” I tried to pull my leg back from his grip but he wouldn't let go. “Shh! I'll put these on you.”

He took out a pair of new shoes from the bag and replaced my heels with them. I watched him patiently as he put those shoes on me ever so gently. As if, my legs would break if he held them a little too hard. “All done," he said, looking up at me.

I stood up and tried to jump a few times and these shoes were really comfortable. The blisters I got due the heels hurt less now. “Did Maa ask you to get these too?”

He flinched lightly but it was almost unnoticeable. He laughed awkwardly and it made him look a little suspicious. “You had to run in heels, it must've hurt your legs. It can be troublesome to even walk in heels-” He rambled non stop. But when I looked at him with narrowed eyes, he stopped. “Yes, you can think that.”

I definitely can't think that now. Ved can't lie. He was like an open book, it was obvious that he bought me these himself. And I was really grateful to him but that was the extent of my feelings towards him. “You are a great person, Ved. I hope you find someone who'll make you happy.”

He smiled awkwardly. “Thanks, I guess.” He looked away from me and an awkward silence engulfed us. “I'll remember you as a nice person, so don't worry.” I tried to lighten the mood. And it worked because Ved chuckled. “I'm honored.”

We both laughed our hearts off as if we didn't just end our engagement. Well, it didn't matter, he made peace with this fact and I made my choice. So I guess we can just truly be free now. “But seriously, I'm glad I could be a part of your life, Kayra. Even though it was a small time, it was great being with you, from playing together as children or laughing our mistakes off now. Thank you.”

Ved's words moved me. A smile ghosted his lips and genuineness dripped from his words. I got the feeling that he meant every word he said. I smiled back at him. “Thank you for being so nice to me, Ved. I really appreciate it.”

I don't regret anything I did in my life now, meeting Ved, loving Nolan, deciding to return and now choosing to go back. They say, everything happens for a reason and whatever happens with you or for you, it happens for your higher good.

This really started to make sense to me now.